Sports

Mihini and Nimesh win best judoka titles

Published

3 years ago

2023/08/1

Sahan Weerasooriya

Mihini Dassanayake and Nimesh Abeykoon with their awards.

Sri Lanka Schools Judo Championships

Mihini Dassanayake of Girls’ High School Kandy and Nimesh Abeykoon of Kingswood College Kandy emerged as the best players in the girls’ and boys’ categories respectively at the 24th Sri Lanka Schools Judo Championship held on July 26 and 27at the Jayathillake Indoor Stadium, Nawalapitiya. Mihini is trained by veteran coach and former international, Namal Rajasinghe, while former Navy stalwart Chandana Vipulaweera coaches Nimesh.

Jinaraja Balika Vidyalaya, Gampola, won the girls’ overall first place with a massive aggregate of 23 points, with Kandy Girls High School coming second, with 13.5 points. Pushpadana Girls’ College Kandy and Panvilathenna MV were tied for girls’ third place.

Wickramabahu National School won the boys’ title with a narrow 1.5 margin, beating Anuruddha Kumara National School Nawalapitya. Royal College, Colombo were placed third. Over 80 schools from all parts of the country participated in this competition, organized by the Sri Lanka Schools Judo Association.

The competition had a senior division for Under 20 school players, and a junior category for under 16 players. Some fast-paced and high-quality Judo was seen in both categories, raising future hopes for the sport in this country. Judo has been developing rapidly in the country, with the number of participating schools increasing yearly. Sri Lanka has been represented in Judo at the last two Olympic games.

The winners are as follows.

Under 16 Boys

-35kg –

1st place A. W. Hasitha Pabasara (Anuruddha Kumara National School), 2nd place A. A. K. N. Bandara Aragoda (St. Andrews’ College Gampola), 3rd place W. M. P. S Wanasinghe (Ulapane MV), W. W. M. T. D. S. Wanigasekara (Wickramabahu National School)

-40kg –

1st place W. M. K. A. Wijekoon (Anuruddha Kumara National School), 2nd place T. D. Gamage (Anuruddha Kumara National School), 3rd place W. G. I. H. Jayasena (Wickramabahu National School), M. M. S. H. B. Marasinghe (Gangasiripura KV)

-45kg –

1st place I. H. Umesh Nimsara (Buddhist College Gampola) 2nd place L. W. V. N. Weerasekara (Wickramabahu National School) 3rd place K. G. L. Sandaruwan (Panvilathenna MV), G. A. Gamage (Wickramabahu National School)

-50kg –

1st place S. S. Rajasinghe (Wickramabahu National School), 2nd place M. K. N. Fernando (Prince of Wales College), 3rd place T. D. Gihan Keshara (Godapola MV), S. S. de Silva (Anuruddha Kumara National School)

-55kg –

1st place W. W. G. I. Fernando (Prince of Wales College), 2nd place S. A. Nethmika (D. S. Senanayake College), 3rd place N. M. C. G. Jayawardena (Wickramabahu National School), W. R. T. Jayawardena (Prince of Wales College)

-60kg –

1st place W. H. S. T. Fernando (Kurunduwaththa Royal College), 2nd place K. B. G. T. D. Weerathunga (Anuruddha Kumara National School), 3rd place A. W. G. Matheesha Iroshan (Wickramabahu National School), W. P. H. G. C. R. Dissanayake (St. Sylvester’s College)

-66kg –

1st place W. A. A. C. Wijesinghe (Kurunduwaththa Royal College), 2nd place J. M. S. T. Jayasekara (Anuruddha Kumara National School), 3rd place W. G. Senarathne (Lyceum International School), M. G. Theekshana Shalana (St. Andrews College Gampola)

+66kg – 1st place B. W. H. N. Karunathilake (Kingswood College), 2nd place C. A. Kuruwita (St. Peter’s College), 3rd place S. M. I. C. Weerasinghe (Vidyartha College), K. K. Weerasinghe (Anuruddha Kumara National School)

Under 16 Girls

-36kg

1st place T. G. Hiruni Sansala Gunarathne (Nillamba MV), 2nd place D. K. Thamasha Sanjali Avindya (Doluwa MV), 3rd place R. M. Amasha Thathsarani (Gamini Dissanayake National School), K. W. Dharshani Wasana (Panvilathenna MV)

-40kg

1st place H. I. G. Hathurusinghe (Jinaraja BMV), 2nd place M. D. N. Mahanayake (Jinaraja BMV), 3rd place R. U. G. Methmi Mahisha (Vijayapura MV), P. A. Pavani Avishka Jayarathne (Mederigama MV)

-44kg

1st place Kalashi Nimsara Banjanawaththa (Jinaraja BMV), 2nd G. G. H. V. Bandara (Mayurapada Central College), 3rd M. N. Dilshara (Delta Gemunupura Vidyalaya), S. G. Hansi Randika (Lakshapana Central College)

–48kg 1st place B. M. Chamodi Vihangi (Welimada Ambagasduwa Royal College), 2nd U. G. K. Sewmini (Waththegama BMV), 3rd T. G. D. M. Dharmasena (Ogodapola MV), T. G. H. S. K. Piyathissa (Waththegama BV)

-52kg

1st place N. G. K. G. Nagoda (Manikkawa KV), 2nd place H. N. L. Ellewaththa (Giraulla MV), 3rd place W. H. A. Dewlini Prarthana (Pavilathenna MV), E. M. P. T. B. Ekanayake (Pushpapada BMV)

-57kg

1st place R. M. Kavisha Nethmini (Welimada Ambagasduwa Royal College), 2nd place S. H. S. T. D. Dias (Waththegama BV), 3rd S. R. Dinithi Vihanga (Mederigama MV), T. M. C. S. Jayasinghe (Waththegama BV)

-63kg

1st place U. D. G. Dilsara Nethmini (Viharagala National School), 2nd L. A. V. Vidunima (Doluwa KV), 3rd Y. M. K. G. S. Sithara (Viharagala National School), D. M. N. S. Dissanayake (Panvilathenna MV)

+63kg

1st place U. G. K. O. Perera (Jinaraja BMV), 2nd place J. M. A. S. Jayasinghe (Pushpadana BMV), 3rd R. P. S. U. Randunuge (Mayurapada Central College), P. Vishalani (Saraswathi National School)

Under 20 Boys

-45kg

1st place H. G. D. S. Jayasiri (Wickramabahu National School), 2nd place S. T. I. D. Karunarathne (Giraulla MV), 3rd place K. G. P. Sathsara (Mahanama MV), Steve Mitchell Xavier (St. Peter’s College)

-50kg

1st place G. P. Hashan Umayanga (Wickramabahu National School), 2nd place K. T. S. S. Bandara (Panvilathenna MV), 3rd place K. M. S. A. Bandara (Kurunduwaththa Royal College), E. G. Y. B. Karunathilake (Kurunduwaththa Royal College)

-55kg

1st place K. B. N. I. Abeykoon (Kingswood College), 2nd place W. M. K. M. Weerasinghe (Wickramabahu National School), 3rd place T. K. K. G. Gihan Priyadarshana (Kahawaththa MV), S. A. T. Sandaruwan Chandheera (Wickramabahu National School)

-60kg

1st place S. L. M. Pushpakumara (Wickramabahu National School), 2nd S. M. S. M. Bandara (Kingswood College), 3rd G. P. H. C. C. de Silva (Kurunduwaththa Royal College), K. G. T. M. Keerthirathne (St. Anthony’s College)

-66kg

1st place M. A. A. Kalith (D. S. Senanayake), 2nd place Y. N. S. de Silva (Jinaraja Vidyalaya), 3rd place G. G. H. S. Samaraweera (Udaaludeniya Vidyalaya), J. M. Vimukthi Nuwan (Wickramabahu National School)

-73kg

1st place M. S Arfath (Gampola Muslim College), 2nd place B. G. C. M. Bogahadeniya (Kurunduwaththa Royal College), 3rd place P. D. V. Rangadiv (Kingswood College Kandy), D. M. G. D. D. Wijekumara (Anuruddha Kumara National School)

-81kg

1st place K. A. P. Sandaruwan (Kahawaththa MV), 2nd place P. H. S. R. D. de Silva (Anuruddha Kumara National School), 3rd place P. G. I. Reshan (Gampola Buddhist College), W. D. B. S. Dissanayake (Kurunduwaththa Royal College)

+81kg

1st place S. T. B. Nishshanka (Anuruddha Kumara National School), 2nd place D. Y. S. B. Dharmasiri (Sumangala MV), 3rd place A. M. B. B. Aththanayake (Wickramabahu National School), R. A. Chanul Sithmika (D. S. Senanayake College)

Under 20 Girls

-44kg

1st place B. G. U. S. Bandara (Wickramabahu National School), 2nd place H. M. I. A. Sathsarani (Panvilathenna MV), 3rd place B. A. S. H. Hansamali (Somadevi MV), Kinuri Savindya (Gangasiripura MV)

-48kg

1st place K. S. K. Hansamali (Wickramabahu National School), 2nd place A. M. P. D. Dissanayake (Waththegama BV), 3rd place H. P. T. Devindi (Viharagama MV), Y. G. G. Rasangika (Wickramabahu National School)

-52kg

1st place I. G. Roshini Nivarthana (Panvilathenna MV), 2nd G. M. S. D. Gunarathne St. Joseph BV), 3rd place R. A. M. S. Y. K. Ranasinghe (Kurunduwaththa Royal College), T. D. G. S. Navarathne (Giraulla MV)

-57kg

1st place K. M. J. S. Karunanayake (Pushpadana BV), 2nd place J. M. P. A. Jayasundara (Kandy Girls’ High School), 3rd place P. F. Subhani Harshini (Welimada Ambagasduwa Royal College), E. M. T. Ekanayake (Pushpadana BV)

-63kg

1st place Mihini Dassanayake (Kandy Girls’ High School), 2nd place J. M. Malsha Heshani (Somadevi MV), 3rd place I. A. Udayangani Subodha (Lakshapana Central College), M. P. I. N. Dilhani (Somadevi MV)

–70kg 1st place D. G. G. Tharushika Deniyage (Jinaraja BMV), 2nd place W. G. Navodya Sathsarani (Panvilathenna MV), 3rd place P. G. K. Madhuwanthi Jayarathne (Panvilathenna MV), H. G. A. P. Dissanayake (Pushpadana BV)

-78kg

1st place Thanumi Jayarathne (Kandy Girls’ High School), 2nd place T. M. V. K. Abeyrathne (Pushpada BV), 3rd place A. M. H. D. Aththanayake (Swarnamali BV), S. G. Chathushi Janodhya (Gamini Dissanayake National School)

+78kg

1st place L. H. D. N. de Silva (Kurunduwaththa Royal College), 2nd place P. R. K. Mudunduwa (St. Josephs BV), 3d place S. Gadhafi (Kandy Girls’ High School), M. G. B. S. Abeykoon (Pushpadana BV)

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Pakistan T20 cricket league to be held in empty stadiums amid oil crisis

Published

10 mins ago

2026/03/24

Priyan

Pakistan's Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi speaks during a news conference regarding upcoming Pakistan Super League cricket tournament, in Lahore, Pakistan, March 22, 2026 [Aljazeera]

Pakistan’s premier domestic T20 league will take place in empty stadiums due to the recent spike in oil prices, says a top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The franchise-based Pakistan Super League, set to kick off on Thursday, also ⁠cancelled its opening ceremony in Lahore, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday, citing a fuel ⁠shortage caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

The league was set to be played in six cities, but now only Lahore and Karachi will be hosting the games, with the opening encounter set to be played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Pakistan has faced soaring oil prices prompted by the United States-Israel war on Iran and the subsequent spread of the conflict across the region. Pakistan’s government has asked its citizens to restrict their movements due to rising fuel prices.

“We don’t know how long this war will continue,” Naqvi said.

“We can’t ask people to restrict their movements and then have 30,000 people in stadiums every day. We decided that as long as this [oil] crisis is ongoing, we will not have crowds at matches. This was a difficult decision, but it needed to be made. The opening ceremony will also be cancelled.”

Naqvi said the PCB will issue refunds for all sold tickets within 72 hours and will also compensate franchise owners for the loss of revenue from gate receipts.

Naqvi apologised to the four cities – Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Peshawar – that will no longer host PSL games this season. “We have to restrict our movements, and we do not want to waste our resources,” he said. “I especially apologise to Peshawar, which was due to host PSL games for the first time, [but] there will be no crowds anyway, so there was no reason to go to those cities.”

Naqvi said he consulted Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is also the PCB patron, and the eight franchises before finalising the decision to stage the games in empty stadiums.

Several foreign players have pulled out of PSL due to personal reasons, including Australians Jake Fraser-McGurk and Spencer Johnson, South African Ottneil Baartman and Gudakesh Motie of the West Indies.

[Aljazeera]

Sports

Shanaka replaces injured Curran at Rajasthan Royals

Published

54 mins ago

2026/03/24

Sahan Weerasooriya

Dasun Shanaka becomes the second player to walk away from his PSL team to join an IPL franchise in the past few days.

Dasun Shanaka has replaced the injured Sam Curran at Rajasthan Royals (RR) for IPL 2026 and has informed his PSL team, Lahore Qalandars, of his decision.

‎‎Shanaka will join RR for INR 2 crore (US$ 214,000 approx.).

‎‎”Sam brings immense value with both bat and ball,” Kumar Sangakkara, director of cricket and head coach, RR, said. “However, we are pleased to have found an ideal replacement in Dasun Shanaka, a finisher with the bat and a quality all-rounder who helps maintain the balance of our side.”

‎‎Curran, who was part of a pre-auction trade between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and RR in which CSK acquired Sanju Samson and RR also got Ravindra Jadeja, has a groin issue, which has ruled him out of the IPL.

‎‎Qalandars, meanwhile, are replacing Shanaka with Australia allrounder Daniel Sams. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi recently also said the board will be taking action against players such as Shanaka and Blessing Muzarabani who have been opting out of the PSL for IPL deal.‎

‎Shanaka, a lower-order batter and medium-pace bowler who led Sri Lanka at the recent T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, comes in with good batting form: he hit a 20-ball 50 against Oman and 76 not out in 31 balls against Pakistan. He has played one season of the IPL in the past, in 2023, when he played three games for Gujarat Titans (GT) with unspectacular returns.‎

‎He becomes the second player to walk away from his PSL team to join an IPL franchise in the past few days after Muzarabani opted out of his deal with Islamabad United once Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) reached out to him to be a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman, who the team had to release on instructions from the BCCI because of geopolitical tensions between India and Bangladesh.

‎‎For RR, Shanaka joins a strong list of overseas players, the others being Shimron Hetmyer, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Donovan Ferreira, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Kwena Maphaka and Adam Milne.

‎‎RR, who finished one off the bottom last season, begin their IPL 2026 campaign next Monday, March 30, in Guwahati against CSK. (cricinfo)

Sports

Dambulla – cricket’s crown jewel

Published

1 day ago

2026/03/23

Thilina Walpola

When cricket is played at Dambulla, it’s always a full house and when tickets are sold out, some fans take refuge at nearby trees

Today is a red-letter day for Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium. Exactly 25 years ago, to this very day, the venue hosted its maiden international, Sri Lanka locking horns with England and in the quarter-century since, the ground has grown from a bold gamble into one of the country’s prized cricketing possessions.

From Sachin Tendulkar’s silken drives to Dale Steyn’s thunderbolts, the game’s greats have left their imprint here. Dambulla has seen it all, high-octane contests, spin clinics and finishes that have gone down to the wire.

The brainchild of former SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala, Dambulla was not built on a whim but on a clear game plan. Sri Lanka, weary of rain playing spoilsport and washing games down the drain, needed a venue in the dry zone. A study into the country’s driest regions pointed squarely to Dambulla, centrally located, easily accessible and, crucially, less at the mercy of the weather gods.

If location was the first box ticked, aesthetics were the icing on the cake. Perched along the Colombo – Sigiriya road, the ground offers a view that can take your breath away. Climb up to the main stand and you are greeted by a sea of green, with the serene Ibbankatuwa Tank glistening in one corner. Sunsets here are straight out of a postcard. In another corner looms the historic Dambulla Rock, where King Valagamba, in exile, regrouped before marching back to reclaim his kingdom from south Indian invaders. Cricket here, quite literally, is played in the shadow of history.

Dambulla isn’t just a cricket ground. This is part of Thilanga’s visionary thinking. He wanted the game to trickle down to the grassroots, to take cricket out of Colombo’s comfort zone and into the heartland. The response has been overwhelming. Whenever the big boys roll into town, the stands are packed to the rafters and when space runs out, fans perch on nearby trees just to catch a glimpse, a reminder that cricket, in this part of the country, is more than a game; it is a way of life.

The stadium itself was built in double-quick time, a project fast-tracked with military precision. Former captains Bandula Warnapura and Duleep Mendis, then part of the SLC set-up, oversaw the construction, ensuring the ground was ready to host top-flight cricket without missing a beat. Sujeewa Godaliyadda, now SLC Treasurer, has been part of the furniture here from day one, guarding the venue like the apple of his eye.

Back in 2001, the surrounding area was little more than a quiet outpost. Fast forward to today and the landscape has changed beyond recognition, hotels, restaurants and supermarkets have sprung up, proof that cricket has been a catalyst for economic growth. The ripple effect has been unmistakable; livelihoods have improved and the region has been put firmly on the map.

Of course, the journey has not always been smooth sailing. At times, Dambulla was left out in the cold, sidelined due to petty politics while other venues were given the nod. Hambantota’s Suriyawewa had its moment in the sun, but when rain threatens to play havoc, Dambulla remains the trump card. Unlike some white elephants, this ground delivers when it matters.

In recent years, the venue has come back into its own. Floodlights have been upgraded, state-of-the-art training facilities have been added and Dambulla is now being groomed as a Centre of Excellence. A new media centre is in the pipeline, while expansion plans are on the drawing board to meet the ever-growing demand from fans eager to soak in cricket in this picturesque setting.

by Rex Clementine